6/12/2023 0 Comments Glc player high polyHaving had particular success with the drop in game 1, Poly elected to play a similar defensive tactic and once again set up with multiple attacking threats from both centre-forward positions and shooters off the arc. Manchester were also to play their match against the Poly without one of their key players, but remained strong opposition and the Poly knew that this was likely to go the distance. Nonetheless, this was a platform on which to build. ![]() ![]() Overall, this was a very solid performance, with a comfortable margin Poly started slowly, taking some time to get their heads clear in the first quarter and suffering from a failure to follow the pre-match tactic of shutting down their key shooters with discipline. ![]() Invicta tried to fight back once again, but once Poly moved to a drop, with a high press from position three shuttling between the Invicta two and three positions, Poly started to pile on the pressure, with 6 unanswered goals from Peter Benedek, Chris Brown, Giacomo Cupido, Luke Jones and Joan Secanell. Jeremy Johnson took Poly back into the lead with an assist from Giacomo Cupido, who then added a goal of his own moments later. Invicta continued to battle, restoring parity with some long-range shooting, despite Poly identifying this as a key area to shut down in the pre-match team talk. Campbell “Bambi” Gregory took Poly into the lead with some explosive centre-forward play not to be outdone by his junior countryman, captain Chris Icely followed suit. Poly shipped two counterattack goals with a slow start following a long travel, but pulled the game back to 2-2 with goals from Chris Brown and the returning Lyndon Cranley who has struggled with injury in the build up to the season, but shown some fine form since returning to action. Tactically, Poly elected to start with a press defence, with Jorge Garijo and Joan Secanell playing with focus and skill at centre-back and the Poly attack setting up to play with a passer/driver on 2 and a second centre-forward from the wings. Missing their talisman Sean King, there was a sense that they were vulnerable, but Poly could afford to give no quarter in such a high-stakes game. Invicta occupied 7th place in the table going into the weekend, one place and one point behind Poly losing this game would make the rest of the weekend an uphill battle and Poly were aware that despite being below us in the league, Invicta had shown their ability with a win over Manchester, a draw with Sheffield and narrow loses to Cheltenham and Solihull. Two wins was a must for Super 5 status, but three wins would send a message. ![]() Failing to put Solihull to the sword whilst leading for the majority of the game, allowing Lancaster too much attacking play and gifting Caledonia their only win of the season was juxtaposed against a muscular display against champions Cheltenham and the promise that Poly could dominate against tough opposition. At the start of the season the team had set a primary goal or making the Super 5s, with a promising team filled with ability and pedigree, but as yet showing signs of genuine ability, without the results to show for it. We were in 6th position, on the borderland between Super 5s and relegation battle. Polytechnic travelled to Lancaster for the final weekend of games before the table split.
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